Day 14 – July 3, 2024 – Portland, England

WARNING: Flower picture overload! LOL!

Since our excursion didn’t leave until noon, we had a quick breakfast & lunch before heading out. We were docked so only had to leave the ship and find our bus to take us to the sub-tropical gardens. The gardens, located in Abbotsbury, was about a 45-minute drive from the port. Our guide, Chrissie, had issues with the microphone so had to speak loudly and we missed some of the information.

We walked on our own all through the gardens for about an hour, which were lovely! I will bore you with lots of plants/flowers pic down below, lol!

We returned to the bus and drove about 15 minutes to the Abbotsbury Swannery and stayed for about an hour. The swannery is amazing! I have never seen anything like it, and I could have stayed there for hours just looking at the swans and their cygnets (baby swans). John and I walked all over the place and read about the different swan families that they keep separate from others to give them a chance to thrive and grow. Some history on the swannery:

The only place in the world where you can walk through the colony of Mute Swans.
It is spread over 25 acres.
It was established by Benedictine Monks who built a monastery at Abbotsbury during the 1040s. The monks farmed the swans to produce food.

After our fill of the swans, we boarded the bus and headed back to the pier and to the ship. Our usual of cleaning up, happy hour and dinner. The comedian, Jeff Stevenson, was back again tonight so we enjoyed another night of comedy.

An enjoyable day and tomorrow we be our last stop before heading to Southampton. We will be in Saint-Malo, France, and we plan to do our own thing. Nite all 😊

ABOUT PORTLAND (taken from the daily newsletter):

It is a peninsula located off the coast of Dorset in southern England.
It is connected to the mainland by Chesil Beach, a 17-mile-long shingle barrier. Portland juts out into the English Channel, forming a natural harbor that has played a crucial role in British maritime history.
The Isle of Portland has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with evidence of Mesolithic settlements still visible.
Its strategic location made it an important site for coastal defense, leading Henry VIII to construct Portland Castle in 1539 as part of his coastal fortification program. It is still well-preserved today.
Its most famous export is limestone, known as Portland stone. Quarried since Roman times, it has been used in many iconic structures, including St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The creation of Portland Harbor in the mid-19^th century further cemented the area’s maritime importance. The massive breakwaters, built using convict labor, were completed in 1872, creating one of the largest man-made harbors in the world.
The island offers dramatic coastal scenery, including the Portland Bill lighthouse at its southern tip. The Jurassic Coast begins at Portland, offering visitors a glimpse into 185 million years of geological history.
Despite its small size, Portland has a distinct identity and culture. The island was traditionally a royal manor, and its ancient Court Lett still functions, preserving historical rights and privileges. The local dialect, though less common now, is another unique aspect of Portland’s heritage.